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Here at Skyscanner, we want our travelers to get the best possible travel deals, so we’ve gathered some exclusive tips on how to score a flight upgrade for your next trip. See you in first class!
🤫 Travel at quiet times
A well-traveled Growth Manager at Skyscanner reckons:
“You’ve got a better chance of upgrading to business class by booking a flight on a bank holiday and other times of the year when business travelers are less likely to fly, as fewer seats tend to be booked up.”
💰 Invest a little to get a lot
Springing for add-on services like premium seats and additional luggage can work in your favor when airlines choose whom to upgrade. Another Skyscanner frequent flyer says:
“My wife and I got upgraded by BA when we moved here from the US. Not sure why, but we think the massive baggage fees we paid helped.”
👨✈️ Be loyal to your airline
Another flight upgrade secret: Simply join the airline’s loyalty program. Even if it’s at the lowest level, you’ll get rewarded before those not in the program. Just be sure to get a loyalty card for each program you join.
⏰ Arrive early
Your flight may only have one or two upgrade spots available, so maximize your chances of securing one by checking in at the airport 10 hours before the scheduled departure. You’ll have quite a bit of time to kill at Starbucks if it backfires, but it worked for a Skyscanner Product Manager:
“My wife and I were flying to the Dominican Republic. We got to Glasgow Airport far too early, but at least there was no line. The check-in person told us that they had two spare seats in first class, and since we were the first to arrive, we could have them for free. So we happily accepted.”
🌝 Or, check in late (but not too late)
This one is a bit of a gamble and a direct contradiction to our previous tip, but stick with us. While we don’t actively recommend arriving late for your flight, if you do so without reserving your seat and the economy section of the plane is overbooked, you could end up snagging a premium-class ticket. Another Product Manager at Skyscanner said:
“It works well at busy times, but it’s a dangerous game! If you’re too late, you might miss the check-in time, or they might have already sorted out their overbooking problems by giving upgrades to the passengers ahead.”
Not a strategy for the faint of heart.
👩🏽💻 Read your emails
The frequent flyer above also recounts that Air France emailed him a couple of times on the day of departure, offering a cheap (albeit not free) upgrade.
“I’ve twice missed this because I didn’t check my emails close enough to departure. One of these times, I had even called the airline to ask if they had any deals, and they said no! So keep checking your emails even up to a couple of hours before you fly.”
🤝 Be nice
Kindness pays. A long-time Skyscanner employee recounts his lucky American flight upgrade:
“Flying to the US a few years ago, I boarded the plane late (as usual), and there was an older guy sitting down in my seat. The stewardess (whom I’d chatted to on the way in) was nearby and heard the guy saying he just wanted to sit next to his wife. I told her I didn’t mind sitting in his seat (it was the row behind, I think), and off she went, only to return five minutes later. She asked me to follow her… all the way up to business class!”
👔 Dress to impress
No, we don’t mean turning up at O'Hare dressed as the Blues Brothers, but we do recommend leaving the tracksuit at home and dressing up a little – either full-on formal or business casual should do the trick.
Having gained a business class upgrade to South Africa traveling with her boyfriend while they happened to be in their best threads, a Talent Acquisition Coordinator at Skyscanner suggests “looking good, wearing your Sunday best and smiling” for a better shot at that coveted upgrade.
🍀 Just ask
When all else fails, don’t be afraid to simply ask for an upgrade. Just be polite, respectful and kind. Of course they can always say no, but what do you have to lose?
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